OT - Help with Job Aplication - Any IT People out there?

[Conrad]

Hmm, seeing how virtually everybody with a Bravo works in IT, now that I have bought one I have decided to go for a 'Systems Developers' job at work. I come from a job in housing with a background in archaeology so not too much of a leap there.

Thing is, I can pretty much find examples of my skills for most of the job description except the following...

'Experience of specifying and implementing systems and processes across a number of sites'

WTF! Any golden rules that I should be aware of? Hints? Tips? The job is only being advertised so they can increase my salary by several thousand pounds and I would have to fail comprehensively not to get it, but I would rather have a clue about this bit above.

I'm off now to google it and see what that turns up.

Thanks for ANY help guys and girls

Conrad

 

[cynic-al]

systems and processes, well if you really want to impress them have you ever done any ISO 9000/9001/9002/9003 work? If you were involved in a conversion that would really impress them! Otherwise any procedures you have help put in place for completing a certain task? It doesn't just have to be computer related, i would imagine they just want to see examples of your problem solving skills and your ability to look at the bigger picture, or dare i say it, outside the box! lol

 

[Tom (the imposter)]

The Bravo and IT link. You've just pointed it out, you know something - you're right!

Good luck with the job front chief!

 

[Bahney]

'Experience of specifying and implementing systems and processes across a number of sites'


i think what they are after is just finding out what your problem management skills are like for example would you visit a site 5 times to install software on 5 seperate pc's ? nope you would go to the site once and do them all at the same time to save on costs be more convienient and be more efficiant.

the specifying part sounds like they want to know if you have recomended software or hardware to anyone which could be anything from "i told my friend to upgrade to xp because windows 98 is turd" or 3 pc's needed aome design software installed but the gfx card wasent upto scratch so i researched the most cost effective gfx card to meet the demands of the software and then implimented it across the department.

^^ notice how i slipped in the implimented bit in there as well

i think that is what they are asking for, but as with most things on a job description they are always very vague

 

[Barakka]

From a Software Development point of view...

The specifying bit can also refer to defining specifications for systems. The specification is the first stage of software development and gives the developers a sort of blueprint of what the system is to do.

For example (fiat parts catalogue) it would cover everything from top level descriptions :
"List all the parts for all the current Fiat cars"
down to :
"After selecting the part the user must be able to easily select any associated parts which connect to the part they are looking at"

The specification for a system will tell the developers all the funtionality that is required, and define the logic of the program(s) so that it will enable the users to accomplish their task(s).

The specification can relate to multiple sites in many ways, it may be that the different sub-programs are required for each site. I worked in a company where they had a Warehouse and Head Office situation, the system they designed had a Warehouse module for selectin, loading, packing etc. and a Head Office/Buyer module for the controlled purchase of the products and store pricing, each designed to give the different funtionality that was required at that site. It may also relate to the fact that one site needs to be developed or rolled-out at first or second or last.

Equally specifying and implementing processes may refer to defining and educating methods of work. For example as part of producing a system it may require changes (whether small or large) to how people do their job. An example was IBM (I think) in the early 90's when a new system was planned and one of the processes they looked at required the printing of a document which was then sent 100's of miles to be authorised by another department and sent back. By training the staff at the first site to authorise it themselves they saved thousands every month in postage, and didn't need as many staff in the department at the second site any more. This is called Business Process Redesign (BPR).

As usual with job specifications the statement they put was abiguous, it's deliberate, I love writing those into job specs and they may be after something totally different... maybe sound them out with something like "That's a very abiguous statement, could you be clearer as what sort of systems and processes you are referring to"

 

[Conrad]

Thanks for your help guys, I have taken on what you have said, it is more than I knew before. I'll go down the practical implication route from Bahney and the staff training issue from Barakka. I went to a corporate 'event' this evening and someone from the section I am applying to said that it should be good when I joined them, I had to point out that I still had to apply! Guess I really have to screw up big stylie not to get this one

Thanks for the Help, I shall post on my success or otherwise.

Conrad